Greens leader Adam Bandt has called on the federal government to abandon the AUKUS pact, citing the leadership of US President Donald Trump as a major concern.
The AUKUS security agreement, a trilateral pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, aims to bolster stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Bandt’s comments come just weeks after a flotilla of Chinese navy ships made an unannounced voyage around the country, firing shots off the coastline.
Despite this, Mr Bandt has labelled President Trump a “very dangerous man” and claimed involvement in the partnership puts a “Trump-shaped target” on Australia.
“We should get out of AUKUS,” Mr Bandt told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“Now is not the time to be hitching Australia’s wagon to Donald Trump. It puts Australia at risk.
“It is billions of dollars that is being spent on submarines that might never arrive.”
Mr Bandt suggested that AUKUS commits Australia to acting as an “attack force” for the United States and he rejected the belief that the US would be a reliable ally.
“Thinking that Donald Trump will ride to our rescue if there’s any security threat is now absolutely wishful thinking,” he said.
Top defence leaders recently issued a stark warning that the world teeters on the brink of an escalating arms race.
Meanwhile, Mr Bandt could play a pivotal role in delivering a minority government as the latest polls show the increasing likelihood of a hung parliament.
As a minor party, the Greens cannot form government alone, but the possibility of a hung parliament could see them strike a power-sharing agreement with Labor.
“One commentator said that there’s a 98 per cent chance of a minority government at this election,” Mr Bandt said.
“After the next election we can… get Labor to act on the crises facing this country, including the crisis in our public schools.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly ruled out making any deal with the Greens, but will require their support in the event of a hung parliament.
The Greens leader has acknowledged a Labor-Greens coalition was “very unlikely” but said he would seek a “stable, progressive and effective” relationship.
